It’s About To Get “In Tents”!

Recently during prayer, we began seeing “tents” like circus tents and God has expounded much on this.  However, one thing I heard while another intercessor was praying last night was this…

She was saying, “We are in tents” but I heard “intense”.  I began to ask God about this and He said that what will be experienced, shall be “intense” and we shall be known as “intense”.

Now, to think of someone as “intense”, I’m not sure that it portrays something very attractive but I decided to get together with my good friend, Merriam Webster and supplicate before the Lord.

Here’s what I found.

Intense:

1 a : existing in an extreme degree 

All of us exist but do we exist extremely?   Do I exceed the ordinary, usual or expected?   To be extreme is to go to great or exaggerated lengths. 

Here’s a  passage that comes to mind when I think extreme and not surprisingly, it’s been a passage ringing in my heart for quite a while now as well.

Ephesians 3:16-18

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 

Talk about comprehensive testing.  Father said that He’s stretching us…. I would say it would be extreme to comprehend just how wide, how long, how deep, how high…whoa!

   b : having or showing a characteristic in extreme degree
 

Our character is being tested…Philippians 3:15-16

 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

We have His character and it’s about to be seen in and through us, as long as we are mindful of it!  The word perfect can be translated, “purpose”.  Our character is tested in accordance with what He has purposed us for.  Read Philippians 3:15-16 this way for a moment.

Let us therefore, as many have purpose, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

It’s good to know that when we are tested, if we are otherwise minded in regard to our God given purpose, he will reveal it to us!

2  marked by or expressive of great zeal, energy, determination, or concentration

Does my zeal provoke others?

2 Corinthians 9:2

… and your zeal hath provoked very many.

Does my zeal call forth or incite a response to Jesus Christ?  Is it contagious?

3 a : exhibiting strong feeling or earnestness of purpose     

Last year, at the beginning of the year, God spoke to me about Psalm 37:37 as I was reading my personalized bible. 

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

The personalized bible inserts my name and it grabbed my attention because it called me, of all people, perfect. I knew that there had to be something more. 

The word perfect actually translates, knowing purpose or fulfilled purpose. 

Just as Hebrew 5:9 talks about Jesus being “made” perfect, it’s not in reference to His “sinless” nature.  It speaks of His purpose being fulfilled in being sent to take away the sins of the world.  He was at that moment the author of eternal salvation.

We are about to exhibit an earnestness in our purpose.  This speaks of the mind.  We are about to exhibit a serious and “in tent” mental state.  No distractions.  No comparisons. No other intention.  No other motive.  No other care.  A blatant disregard for anything other than Him and His purpose!

Lord, put me “in tents”.  Put me in your tense.  Not past tense.  Not future tense.  Just “in tense”.  It’s going to be “intense” I know.  But there’s nothing else.  None other than you Jesus.  None other than you!  Amen.

 

Living Plowshares

 

2 Peter 1:4   Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (KJV)   Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (NIV) 　 Participate. Participate. Participate. This word has been ringing in my heart today. Interchanging the word partakers with participate brings about a fresh new interpretation of this passage.    What does it mean to participate in God’s divine nature? In studying, I discovered that the synonym for participate is “share” and when you look at the word share, it means one thing. Plowshare.   The plowshare is the trench in the earth, made by the plow or an impression made in the earth that resembles the track of the plow. A marked narrow depression.   It’s the place where the seed is dropped in. What a glorious picture of what it means to participate in the divine nature of God. Seed, time and harvest. That is His divine nature. All we have to do is yield this earth to Him. Living as the plowed land.    JESUS   He is the perfect picture of this. He was human. He was earth. He was plowed.    JESUS…the plowshare.   His life resembled the track of the plow.   Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The Loving. The Good. The Merciful. The Gracious. The Compassionate. The Peacemaker. The Healer. The Provider. Forgiver of our sins…had plowed. Father God, right on track.   And Jesus reflected Father’s glory when He was plowed. Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” 　 He was a marked narrow depression.   Let me break that down…   He was a marked…“From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Galatians 6:17    Narrow……“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”    Depression…… He has left His mark. Ephesians 1:11 says, “In whom we have a heritage, being marked out from the first in his purpose who does all things in agreement with his designs.” (Bible in Basic English) 　 I’ll leave you with one last thought on this… As I was searching throughout the scriptures for the word mark, the many translations interchange the word declare with mark or interpret the word declared to mean marked.   So when Ephesians 1:3 says that he upholds all things by the word of His power…one of the attributes that makes him the express image of Father,  was His declaring. In resembling Father…he spoke.

 

Chambers of Commerce

Last night during intercession, God said that he was taking the “pits” out of the olives, the place where the anointing would flow from.  Some have gone through hard times and hard things have taken place but they aren’t to become a part of us or hinder the flow of the anointing.  The prayer that followed  was, “tread on us Lord, tread on us.”  Those words alone bear witness with the cry of my heart.  Later, the Lord said that he was creating in us a new heart.  I saw a picture of  a human heart and God spoke very clearly and said, “I am giving you CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.” 

That was later confirmed to me when I was being prayed over and the words were, “I see your chambers.”

Now, I don’t know much about government but I do know that when God says something, research it because that is a work He is doing in my life.  An not only mine, but I feel this was a word for the body as well.

So, off to Wikipedia  and Merriam Webster I go to get more definition and this is what I found. 

#1- Chambers of commerce are a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. 

From a Kingdom standpoint, this would be an organization of churches whose goal is to further the interests of the one and only business, which is Father’s.  Luke 2:49 says, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business.”   That’s one way of looking at it.

The other is…an organization of churches whose goal is to further the interests of the seven mountains, which are also Father’s businesses as well.  These seven mountains are religion, family, education, media, arts & entertainment, government, & business (marketplace).  Lance Wallnau, the 7 Mountain Mandate is a great teaching on this.

#2-  Some chambers have joined state, national, and even international bodies. 

#3- The chamber of commerce network is the largest business network globally. This network is informal, with each local chamber incorporated and operating separately, rather than as a chapter of a national or state chamber.

#4- There are basically three models of chamber. 

Compulsory/ Public Law

Continental/ Private Law

Bilateral Chambers

The bilateral is the one which has caught my attention.  Read on:

A bilateral chamber of commerce is an organisation formed of individuals and companies who share a common interest in trade and commerce between two countries. (Sounds like HEAVEN and EARTH to me.  Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  & Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” )

The role of the chamber is to represent and further the interests of each of its member countries. We are to further the interest of the country of our true citizenship.  Hebrews 11:16 says, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” 

This is achieved through the promotion and encouragement of bilateral trade and investment.  We are promoters of the Kingdom, encouraging lives to be invested in it.  Trading salvation for eternal damnation, righteousness for sin, health for infirmity, peace for torment, joy for sorrows, prosperity for poverty.  Representatives of every good thing heaven provides.

Bilateral chambers of commerce exist as independent entities yet maintain a close relationship with their embassy and/or consulate – playing an integral role in strengthening bilateral relations and economic interactions. Members of a bilateral chamber benefit from a useful range of business services, support and advice aiming to help fulfil each member’s professional goals.  This is the church friend!  We maintain strong communication with our pastors and leaders and with one another.  Yes, we must continue to be edified and encouraged through fellowship but also must operate independently in terms of the market place, in our communities, families and homes to strengthen relations to Father God.  This is CONNECTIONS! 

Bilateral chambers form a key component in the creation, growth and development process of a company or individual seeking to operate in a foreign business environment. The opportunities and advantages which membership confers should be considered essential in light of the chamber’s culturally sensitive insight and in depth knowledge of the respective countries political and economic structure.  Heart is key. Relationship is key.  Connections are key in seeking to operate within the ”foreign” business enviroment which is this world we are living in.    The opportunities and the advantages of being a citizen of heaven, a child of the Kingdom are essential.  We must have a culturally sensitive insight.  Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” 

 

Make Mine A Double Please!

Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.” 

What’s your “frame” of mind today?  Reading this and studying the word mind, I found that it actually means framing and framework.  Our mind is literally a house built by thoughts and is meant to shelter God’s creative power and His inventions. Our mind is built to house God’s thoughts and His plans for us and for others.  Kingdom materials are meant to be stored in the recesses of the framework of our minds, to be spoken into existence!  The mind is the real reproductive organ, meant to reproduce Jesus Christ  in lives and all of God’s goodness in the here and now!    It’s important to consider, with that in mind, what have we built with our thinking?  Have we built a fertile womb?  Allowing our mouth to be used as a birth canal? 

There really is something to that old saying, “frame of mind” because our mind  is actually a building, a storehouse.  But how it’s built and the strength of our mind, is dependent on what we chose to think about.  Our mind should be “stayed”… braced or supported by the word of God.  Hebrews 1:3 says that God “upholds all things by the word of His power.”  He braces up and supports all things with His word.  Why shouldn’t we do the same?  What things do we need to be added to our lives?  Our thinking and meditating will produce those things.  “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he?”  Am I healed today?  Am I saved, set free, delivered, prosperous, joyful, at peace, righteous, faithful, good, a blessing, etc.?  It’s all in what I think. 

Maybe you, as all of us do from time to time, are struggling with purpose today?  Who am I?  What am I here for?  What plans does God have for me?  Unsettled with the when, the why and the how?  Well, God does have a purpose for your life and it can be found in who He is.  Isaiah 26:3 makes reference to that as well. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon thee….”  Another meaning for “mind” is also purpose.  Purpose is never really about “me, myself and I”.  It’s about Him.  Let’s exchange that word mind with purpose for just a moment.  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose purpose is stayed upon thee.”  When our  purpose is fixed on Him alone…that’s when we have peace. The peace of knowing who we really are and it won’t be lost trying to “be” something in and of ourselves. Amen? 

And speaking of peace, do you need peace today?  That peace that only God can give?  We all do!   Well, there’s more than enough for your life today! .  Isaiah 26:3 talks about a double portion of peace.  What makes me think that there’s a double portion found of peace found in this passage?  Well, in searching out those words, perfect and peace, I found that they share the exact same interpretation.  They both share the exact same meaning in Hebrew.  In fact, they even share the same reference number in the concordance.  So, this passage can be read this way, “Thou wilt keep him in peace peace or double peace, whose mind is stayed upon thee.”   Keeping our mind and our heart on the truth and not the lie; making His thoughts our thoughts; meditating on Who He is…that produces double peace!  Praise God! 

Complete, safety, wealth, health, prosperity…just to name a few…these are the manifestations of peace.  And it’s doubled up!  And not only that, the promise is that He will keep us in that when we keep our minds on Him!  Now I took a look at that word “keep” and it literally means to “blockade”.  You know what a blockade is right?  It’s a restrictive measure designed to obstruct communications of an unfriendly nation.  It prevents passage of  the enemy ”kind” onto our territory and God doubles up on that when we set our minds and hearts on Him. 

So…make mine a double please!

 

The Kingdom of Heaven

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (NIV) Matthew 13:44-46

Recently a dear friend shared this verse with me…gave it to me as a Christmas gift really. No wonder God gave us His word because words are a most precious gift. I was honored and humbled as she shared that I have sold all and that a strand of pearls was in the making throughout my life, that would adorn me as Christ’s bride. With all my heart, I want to live that.

Today I revisited this passage again in my devotions and discovered some new facets. Here’s what I found….

WHEN A MAN FOUND IT…

#1. HE HID IT AGAIN My first question was why? Why after finding something so magnificent as the Kingdom of God, why would we hide it again? But I think the answer to that is more about where he hid it again. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” When a truth from the word is revealed to us, we must first hide it in our hearts so that it can produce there first.

#2. IN HIS JOY, HE WENT. We see here that his “going” was a direct result of the joy that had been given him. Romans 14:17 attributes the Kingdom of God as righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. He went because of what he was carrying. He had sown the Kingdom into His heart and was in route to become poor. Luke 6:20, “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”

#3 AND SOLD ALL HE HAD. “All that he had” does not only refer to what we possess materially, the things of external value but to the possessions of the mind as well. What we “think” belongs to us. Those things that we have determined by our own right that we “should” have or perhaps “could” have. Everything that we have taken ownership of in our mind…positions, entitlements, status, rank, platforms and stages…all to be sold.

Even relationally, it would refer to anyone we are bound to, whether by natural blood relation, by marriage, friendship or duty. None of these relationships should take precedence over our relationship with Father.

What was it that he was setting out to do? He was selling himself into slavery of what he had found. He was giving himself “wholly” to another’s will. Father’s will. He was running with the vision, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” (Matthew 6:10)

And “all he had” could be nothing more than an altar for the Lord. A place of true sacrifice.

#4. He bought that field. When he had nothing left of “himself”. When he had stripped himself of all “self” worth. That was when he was equipped with a Kingdom currency! That word “bought” actually translates in the Greek, to be in the market place, to attend it. It became a place where he could plow, sow and harvest. But that’s not all. It was his to build upon, to make store upon; a place to shelter and provide for others.  He could invite whomever he wanted…as many as would come. And it was generational. It was an inheritance he could leave.